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1987-05-26 Planning Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA Mav 26. 1987 - 7:30 P.M. 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Ca11. 3. Approval of Minutes, April 28, 1987. 4 . iiearinas • a. Case No. 87-7, Anderson, Application for subdivision, Hillside Addition. (Continued from April 28.) 7:30 P.M. b. Case No. 87-3, Olsen, Application for Critical Area variance and site plan review. (Continued from April 28) 8•00 P.M. c. Case No. 87-11, Stalder, Application for subdivision. 8•15 P.M. d. Case No. 87-12, Nonnemacher, Application for wetlands permit. 8•30 P.M. � � 5. New Business. 6. Verbal Review. 7. Adjourn. _ CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MAY 26, 1987 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Planning Commission was called to order at 7:30 o'clock P.M. by Chairma.n Morson. The following members were present: Morson, Anderson, Burke, Duggan, Henning and McMonigal. Sandra Krebsbach was absent. A1so present were Director of Public Works James E. Danielson and Planner Haward Dahlgren. APPROVAL OF' Commissioner Anderson moved approval of the minutes of MINUTES April 28, 1987. Commissioner McMonigal seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays : 0 CASE N0. 87-07 Chairman Morson called the meeting to order for the ANDERSON, SUB- purpose of a continued public hearing for Carl DIVISION Anderson's proposed Hillside Creek subdivision. Mr. Anderson was present and noted that he had now modified his plat to include property owned by the Christensen's and Kalaus's. These properties were previously land- locked properties located west of his p1at. Mr. Anderson proposes to donate some of his land to the Christensens and Kalaus' to give them access, in return they will need to agree to build homes on the lots using his covenants, concerning size and quality of construc- tion. Mr. Anderson stated that he had now located the existing creek on his subdivision and has shown a pickup being installed to drain it into the storm sewer system. He had not resolved any of the other storm water questions, however he was willing to do whatever was needed. He stated that he preferred to drain into an open ditch along Emerson right-of-way east to the Ivy Falls Creek. Mr. Anderson stated that he still had not completed his tree survey drawing. Commissioner Henning asked why Mr. Anderson would want drainage to be in an open ditch, to save money? Mr. Anderson responded that he wanted the ditch for aesthe- tic reasons but if a pipe were found to be more satis- factory that was acceptable. Mr. Joe Bird, 676 Laura Court, asked what would happen to the vacated Emerson Avenue land. Howard Dahlgren replied that an easement for drainage and utility purposes would be retained and the fee owner- ship would revert to adjacent property owners. Mr. Ray Christensen, 1356 Clement, asked lf the.proposed grades were shown. Mr. Anderson responded that they were. ) ' � Commissioner Henning asked why Mr. Christensen was con- cerned and he responded that his lot was steep and he wondered how it fit the new grades. Mr. Anderson replied that individual lots would be graded during home construction. Commissioner Henning moved to close the hearing. Com- missioner Duggan seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays : 0 Commissioner McMonigal moved to reco�nend approval of the preliminary plat subject to the following condi- tions: 1. Retention of a utility and trail easement along Emerson Avenue. 2. Final approval of the utility layout by the City Engineer. Commissioner Burke seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays : 0 Commissioner Burke moved to recommend approval of wet- lands permit to a11ow construction of the subdivision within a wetlands boundary. Commissioner Henning seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 VERBAL REVIEW Because it was not the correct time to start the next public hearing, Public Works Director Danielson gave a verbal review of the cases that had gone before the City Counc il . GAO N0. 87-03 Chairman Morson called a continued public hearing to OLSON RESIDENCE order for the purpose of considering a Critical Area Ordinance (CAO) bluff line setback variance. Mr. David Olson was present to explain that he had been meeting with his neighbors in advance of the hearing to present his proposal. His original proposal did not meet their approval therefore he reque$ted last meeting that the hearing be continued to tonight so he could make the modiiications to meet their requests. He has _ _ . redesigned his home to be of a more "standard" design. He still needs a 11 foot variance to the setback though. Howard Dahlgren remarked that he feels the home can be moved farther forward such that only a 5' variance would be needed. He also stated that some l:l slopes on the grading plan should be flattened out. Commissioner Henning stated that being as the neighbors no longer object and due to the fact that several other homes in the area have been granted variances, he has no problem with the proposal. Commissioner McMonigal agreed. Commissioner Duggan asked if moving the home forward would adversely affect the neighbors sight lines. Howard Dahlgren responded that it would not. Mayor Bob Bruestle of Mendota state.d that every time another roof and driveway are added in this subdivision it increases the drainage into Mendota. He said homes from this subdivision can be seen from Fort Snelling. He also said that Mendota and Mendota Heights are pre- sently working to come to an agreement on joining a watershed district and asked that no more development be approved until the Mendota/Mendota Heights drainage problem is resolved. Commissioner Anderson stated that there are existing homes on both sides of this lot and asked if Mayor Bruestle had notice�.any difference in drai.nage since the development started. � Mayor Bruestle responded Yes, they certainly have. Commissioner Henning asked what was Mendota doing to resolve their storm water problem? Mayor Bruestle stated that Mendota has spent $600,000 - $800,000 on a storm water system and that doesn't work. TKDA, consulting engineers were hired but their efforts to date have failed. Chairman Morson stated that the Planning Commission was not here tonight to solve Mendota's storm water problem but only to decide if a single family home can be built 5' nearer the bluff line than the CAO allows. Commissioner Duggan stated that it is obvious that the Gommission is not going to deny this construction to- night, has Mendota looked for some engineer-ing solu�ions to their storm water problem. Mayor Bruestle responded that Mendota does not have a City Engineer. Commissioner Anderson moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays : 0 Commissioner Anderson moved to recommend to the City Council that a 5 foot variance to the bluff line setback be granted in lieu of the requested ii foot variance. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 CASE N0. 87-11 Commissioner Morson called a public hearing to order to STALDER SUB- consider a subdivision approval for Dale and Elizabeth DIVISION Stalder located at_the northeast corner of Wachtler Road and Wentworth Avenue. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Mr. Paul McGinley, surveyor was present to give the details of the request. He began by stating, that in order to avoid the added expense of platting which is required when a lot is divided into more than 2 lots, the applicants are changing their request to be a simple lot division and have only two new lots. These lots would be; Lot A as one 1ot and Lots B& C would be combined and be the other lot. Ghairman Morson asked that if the City granted this subdivision now could the Stalder's come back next year and get a simple lot division approved for the remaining larger lot? Howard Dahlgren responded No, any further subdivision would need to be done by platting. Commissioner Burke asked what was the cost difference between a simple 1ot subdivision and a plat? Mr. McGinley said that it was about $1600; $600 for park dedication and$1000 f or surveying, abstract updating and county plat checking fee. Commissioner Burked moved to close the hearing. Commissioner Henning seconded the motion. Commissioner Duggan moved to recommend approval of the simple lot division to the City Council. Commissioner Henning stated that he felt the motion should be phrased to inform Council of some conditions � of approval, because what was being approved was dif- ferent than the written information presented to the Commission. Commissioner Duggan changed his motion to be: Recommend approval of a simple 1ot division for the east 115 feet of Lot 35, Auditors Subdivision No. 3, as shown on the submitted drawing dated April 4, 1987, Revised April 21, 1987 and that lots B& C be combined and the line between them eliminated, and subject to the applicant agreeing to dedicate the needed right-of-way for Wentworth Avenue and Wachtler Road as determined by Dakota County, and subject to appropriately revised drawings being submitted in time for inclusion with the City Council agenda packet. Motion seconded by Commis- sioner Anderson. Ayes: 5 Nays: 1-Henning CASE N0. 87-];� Chairman Morson called a public hearing to order to NONNEMACHER consider granting a wetlands permit to allow WETLANDS PERMIT construction of a single family home at 1049 Douglas Road. Mr. Tom Nonnemacher was present to discuss the details of his application. Chairman Morson said he had visited the site and stated that he felt constructing a home on the site would improve the neighborhood. He asked Mr. Nonnemacher if he would grant the City an easement f or the drainage pipe on the west side of the lot. Mr. Nonnemacher said he would but asked if the City wouldn't need some more easement from the lot to the west. Mr. Joe Coopersmith, 1059 Douglas Road, asked if the storm sewer pipe would be extended. Mr. Nonnemacher said that he would be extending the pipe to the rear of his lot al1 at hi s own expense. Mr. Stuart Steiniman, 1046 Douglas Road asked if there would be any pile driving. Mr. Nonnemacher said no, there was poor soil but that he was going to do soil exchange not pile driving. It was explained that this lot did fall within the City's Critical River boundary and that the mound of fi11 placed on the site had a slope in excess of 40% but that staff felt the mound was artifically created and should not be construed as bluff. The Planning Com- mission agreed. Mr. Mark Hoffman, 1045 Douglas, asked how close to the City's holding pond will the construction be? Mr. Nonnemacher said he is attempting to preserve as much wild character as possible but that the construc- tion would be within 45 feet at the rear lot line . Commissioner Henning moved that the hearing be closed. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Commissioner Henning moved to recommend granting the wetlands permit subject to the applicant granting the City a 10 foot wide drainage and utility easement along the west.side of the lot and subject to him extending the City's storm line through to the north property line at no expense to the City. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 � ADJOURN There being no f urther business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Anderson moved that the meeting be adjourned. Commissioner Henning seconded the motion. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:36 o'clock P.M.